EP2690716B1 - Electrical connecting element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connection element having a base body with at least one connection section and at least one socket section, which has at least one contact arm for contacting a plug-in contact insertable into the socket section.

Such electrical connection elements serve to create a releasable electrical connection between the plug contact and the connection element, and are used for example in motor vehicles. The connectors must be able to withstand strong vibrations as well as extreme temperatures and at the same time be able to conduct high currents. In addition, a secure electrical connection between the connection element and the plug contact must be ensured over the entire service life of the connection element.

Electrical connection elements with over springs to increase the contact force are, for example, from EP 1 291 979 A1 , of the FR 2 844 105 and the US 2011/0076901 A1 known. Electrical connection elements according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from US Pat. No. 6,402,571 B1 and the US 5,938,485 known.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical connection element which allows a permanent and secure contact of a plug-in contact and at the same time allows a smooth insertion of the plug contact.

The solution of this object is achieved by an electrical connection element having the features of claim 1.

The electrical connection element according to the invention comprises a base body with at least one connection section and at least one socket section. The connection section is intended to to connect the terminal with an electrical line, while the socket portion serves to receive a plug contact and to contact by means of a contact arm, in this way to establish an electrical connection between the plug contact and the electrical line.

In a contact area provided for contacting the inserted plug contact, the contact arm is divided into at least two subcontacts. The reliability of the contact formation between plug contact and contact arm is increased in this way, since usually a single sub-contact would be sufficient for a contact, according to the invention, but to some extent a redundant contact is made.

In the region of the bushing section, the base body is surrounded by an over-spring, which has at least one over-spring arm, which cooperates with the contact arm at least in the region of the contact surface, so that the contact arm can be deflected counter to a restoring force of the over-spring arm. Thus, the over-spring arm creates a spring support for the contact arm. For this purpose, the over-spring, for example, made of stainless steel, preferably made of a spring steel.

According to the invention, the over-spring arm is part of the over-spring, so that it can be produced with a minimum amount of material. Advantageously, the over-spring arm is elastically movable over a wide range, without being plastically deformed.

The quality and reliability of the electrical contact between contact arm and plug contact is determined by the over-spring arm and an optionally additionally existing inherent elasticity of the contact arm greatly increased. In particular, the risk of relaxation of the contact normal force, ie the contact force when inserted plug contact, is greatly minimized by the over-spring. Thus, even with strong vibration loads and / or high temperature fluctuations secure contact over long periods guaranteed.

Furthermore, due to the supporting effect of the over-spring arm, the contact arm can be manufactured from a less expensive material, for example a copper wrought alloy with lower strength, whereby the connection element as a whole can be produced with lower economic outlay.

According to the invention, the or each over-spring arm is bent inward in the region of an insertion opening for the plug-in contact. The over-spring arm thus contributes to a limitation of the insertion opening, which is located in the region of a front end of the bushing section and thus lies opposite the connection section situated in the rear region of the connection element.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

Preferably, the or each over-spring arm comprises at least two support tongues, which cooperate in each case with one of the partial contacts. In this case, the support tongues can not touch the plug contact touch the sub-contacts or alternatively have a small distance to the sub-contacts. If the subcontacts are pressed outward during the insertion of a plug contact, the support tongues and thus the overfed arm are thereby also deflected in order to generate a restoring force, which press the part contacts to the plug contact. If the subcontacts and the support tongues are arranged at a distance from each other, a restoring force is only generated by the support tongues when the subcontacts have been moved so far outward that they touch the support tongues. Since a separate support tongue is provided for each subcontact, the subcontacts can be moved independently of each other at least in certain areas. The support by the support tongues is also independent. The contact security is further increased by this redundant structure. Also, for example, asymmetrically shaped plug contacts can be contacted with the connection element, since the sub-contacts and the support tongues supporting them can be deflected differently far and thus can adapt to the shape of an asymmetrical plug contact.

According to one embodiment, the support tongues extend in the direction of the insertion opening for the plug contact. In other words, the support tongues extend in opposite directions to the over-spring arm, which extends forwards and thus from the insertion opening to the rear.

The support tongues preferably emerge from support sections of the over-spring arm. The support portions may be formed over a larger area than the support tongues in order to increase the mechanical stability of the over-spring arm.

Furthermore, the support sections can be connected to one another by a web, which is advantageously tapered with respect to the support sections in order to achieve in this way a partial mechanical decoupling of the support sections. Thus, the support sections can be moved against each other within certain limits. The one by one Support tongues acting on a support portion forces are thus only partially transmitted to the other support portion. Consequently, the sub-contacts can be moved by the respective associated support tongues and support portions partially independently of each other, as already mentioned, to increase the reliability of the contact formation of the connection element.

According to a further embodiment, the support portions are each connected by means of a connecting portion with an outer wall of the over-spring. The connecting portions may emerge in the region of the insertion opening from an outer wall of the over-spring and be bent inwards.

Preferably, the base body has two mutually opposite contact arms and the over-spring two opposing over-spring arms, which cooperate with one of the contact arms. A plug contact can thus be inserted between mirror-inverted opposing contact arms and be contacted on both sides of the contact arms. The contact arms are each supported by an over-spring arm. Due to the double, two-sided contacting with a total of four sub-contacts, on the one hand a contact area between the contact arms and the plug-in contact is doubled and, on the other hand, the contact reliability is further increased.

According to the invention, the over-spring in the region of the insertion opening for the plug contact at least one inwardly bent guide tab, which overlaps on the inside with an end portion of the contact arms. The guide plate thus fulfills a threefold function: for the first it defines the insertion opening for the plug-in contact, so that, for example, improperly shaped or too large plug contacts are not in the insertion can be inserted. Secondly, the guide lug forms a protection against an insertion of the plug contact behind the contact arm by the inside receptacle of a contact. It can thus be prevented that the plug contact between the contact arm and an inner wall of the over-spring is inserted. Third, the plug contact is passed through the guide tab in the insertion, whereby the insertion of the plug contact is facilitated. The size of a pin of the plug contact may vary, with preferred pin dimensions in the range of 0.8 mm x 4.8 mm to 0.8 mm x 6.3 mm.

According to the invention, the guide tab biases the contact arm outward. The contact arm thus provides the plug-in contact with the insertion of the plug-in contact in the socket portion a reduced counterforce, thereby reducing the applied during mating plug-in contact and connection element insertion force.

According to a further embodiment, the guide plate protrudes from an outer wall of the over-spring, from which also the over-spring arm emerges. In this case, the guide tab can emerge from a central region of the outer wall of the over-spring, whereas the over-spring arm emerges from edge regions of the outer wall of the over-spring, i. the guide tab is disposed between the connecting portions of the over-spring arm.

Preferably, the over-spring comprises at least one outwardly extending primary detent spring, which is arranged in particular in a recess of an outer wall of the over-spring. The primary detent spring serves to secure or latch the connection element in a housing. Manufacturing technology is thus a fast construction of an arrangement of several connection elements by inserting and locking the connection elements in the housing possible. In the recess of the outer wall of the over-spring the primary detent spring is arranged protected, whereby damage to the primary detent spring can be prevented.

According to a further embodiment, the main body and the over-spring form separate components, wherein the over-spring is positively connected to the base body. During production, the main body and overspring can thus be produced separately. The joining of the main body and overspring is simplified by the positive engagement of the components. In addition, the base body of a particularly electrically conductive material and the over-spring made of a material having a particularly high mechanical elasticity can be produced.

Preferably, the base body and / or the over-spring is formed as a stamped and bent part. The electrical connection element according to the invention is thus in a simple manner and also inexpensive to produce.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Anschlusselements;

Fig. 2

einen Vertikallängsschnitt durch das erfindungsgemäße elektrische Anschlusselement im Bereich eines Buchsenabschnitts;

Fig. 3

einen Horizontallängsschnitt durch den Buchsenabschnitt des erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Anschlusselements, welcher einen Kontaktarm zeigt; und

Fig. 4

einen weiteren Horizontalschnitt durch den Buchsenabschnitt des erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Anschlusselements, welcher einen Überfederarm zeigt.

The invention will now be described purely by way of example with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an electrical connection element according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a vertical longitudinal section through the electrical connection element according to the invention in the region of a socket portion;

Fig. 3

a horizontal longitudinal section through the socket portion of the electrical connection element according to the invention, which shows a contact arm; and

Fig. 4

a further horizontal section through the socket portion of the electrical connection element according to the invention, which shows an over-spring arm.

Fig. 1 shows an electrical connection element 10 with a socket portion 12 and a connection portion 14. By crimping in the region of the connection portion 14, the connection element 10 can be connected to an (not shown) electrical line.

The connecting element 10 has a base body 15, which is formed in one piece from a copper wrought alloy in the form of a stamped and bent part. In the area of the bushing section 12, the base body 15 has two contact arms 28.

In the region of the bushing section 12, the base body 15 is further surrounded by an over-spring 16, which is formed substantially cuboid. The over-spring 16 is manufactured in one piece from a spring steel by means of a stamping bending process.

For fixing the connecting element 10 in a housing, not shown, the over-spring 16 on opposite outer walls 17 each have a primary detent spring 18, which protrudes out of a recess 22 of the outer wall 17 of the over-spring 16 to the outside. The primary detent springs 18 merge in a front region of the over-spring 16 in each case into a guide lug 24 which is bent into the over-spring 16 are and define an insertion opening 26 for an inserted into the socket portion 12 plug contact.

The inwardly bent guide tabs 24 act as in Fig. 2 shown, inside together with end portions of the contact arms 28 and bias the contact arms 28 to the outside, ie they spread something, so that between contact surfaces 30 of the contact arms 28 results in a contact gap 31, which reduces the force required to insert the plug contact.

Starting from the contact surfaces 30, the contact arms 28 run apart to the rear until they rest on opposite inner surfaces of the over-spring 16. In this area, the contact arms 28 each comprise two spacers 33 on each side, which emerge laterally from the contact arms 28 and are bent substantially at right angles, so that the spacers 33 of one contact arm 28 rest on the spacers 33 of the other contact arm 28. Each pair of spacers 33 defines between them a locking opening 20. Side tabs 46 of the over-spring 16 engage in the locking openings 20 and thus fix the over-spring 16 in a form-fitting manner to the base body 15th

The contact arms 28 are articulated in a front region in two sub-contacts 32. Specifically, the sub-contacts 32 of each contact arm 28 are separated by a gap 36 (see. Fig. 3 ), resulting in a certain independent mobility of the sub-contacts 32 against each other. Each subcontact 32 has, in a region facing the insertion opening 26, a contact surface 30, with which it is in contact with the inserted plug contact. The plug contact is thus at a total of four contact surfaces 30 with the four sub-contacts 32 in conjunction.

In the area of the contact surfaces 30, each contact arm 28 cooperates with an over-spring arm 34 of the over-spring 16. Each over-spring arm 34 has two connecting portions 38, which emerge in the region of the insertion opening 26 from edge regions of the outer wall 17 of the over-spring 16 and are bent inward. The connecting portions 38 taper inwardly and go into support portions 40 which are plate-shaped. The support portions 40 are connected by a waisted web 42 together, resulting in a certain mobility of the support portions 40 against each other.

From the support portions 40 go forward support tabs 44 show that abut the sub-contacts 32 and support them resiliently to increase the spring strength of the sub-contacts 32 and thus the contact arms 28 in total (see. Fig. 2 and 4 ). Specifically, each sub-contacts 32 is associated with a support tongue 44 which cooperates in the region of the contact surface 30 with the respective sub-contact 32, more precisely pushes them in the direction of the contact gap 31.

If a plug-in contact is inserted into the insertion opening 26, it presses the partial contacts 32 outwards. The subcontacts 32 thereby in turn deflect the support tongues 44 and thus the over-spring arms 34, resulting in a restoring force exerted by the subcontacts 32 and the support tongues 44 on the plug contact, which ensures secure contacting of the plug contact in the connection element 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

electrical connection element

12

bushing section

14

connecting section

15

body

16

by spring

17

outer wall

18

Primary detent spring

20

locking opening

22

deepening

24

guide tab

26

insertion

28

contact

30

contact area

31

contact gap

32

part Contact

33

spacer

34

overspring arm

36

gap

38

connecting portion

40

support section

42

web

44

support tongue

46

side flap

Claims (11)

1. Electrical connection element (10) comprising
   a base body (15) with at least one connection section (14) and at least one socket section (12), which has at least one contact arm (28) for contacting a plug contact insertable into the socket section (12), wherein the contact arm (28) is divided into at least two sub-contacts (32) in a contact area in which the contacting of the inserted plug contact takes place, and
   an encapsulating spring (16) surrounding the base body (15) in the area of the socket section (12), which in the area of an insertion opening (26) for the plug contact comprises at least one inwardly bent guiding latch (24) which internally overlaps with an end area of the contact arm (28) and biases the contact arm (28) outwardly,
   characterized in that
   the encapsulating spring (16) comprises at least one encapsulating spring arm (34) cooperating with the contact arm (28) at least in the contact area, so that it is deflectable against a resetting force of the encapsulating spring arm (34) wherein the or each encapsulating spring arm (34) is bent inwardly in the area of the insertion opening (26) for the plug contact.
2. Electrical connection element (10) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the or each encapsulating spring arm (34) comprises at least two support tongues (44), each cooperating with one of the sub-contacts (32).
3. Electrical connection element (10) according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the support tongues (44) extend in the direction of an insertion opening (26) for the plug contact.
4. Electrical connection element (10) according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   the support tongues (44) emerge from support sections (40) of the encapsulating spring arm (34).
5. Electrical connection element (10) according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the support sections (40) are interconnected by a web (42), which opposite the support sections (40) in particular is tapered.
6. Electrical connection element (10) according to claim 4 or 5,
   characterized in that
   the support sections (40) are each connected by means of a connecting section (38) with an outer wall (17) of the encapsulating spring (16).
7. Electrical connection element (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the base body (15) has two mutually opposite contact arms (28) and the encapsulating spring (16) has two encapsulating spring arms (34), each cooperating with one of the contact arms (28).
8. Electrical connection element (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the guiding latch (24) emerges from an outer wall (17) of the encapsulating spring (16) from which also an encapsulating spring arm (34) emerges.
9. Electrical connection element (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the encapsulating spring (16) includes at least one outwardly extending primary detent spring (18) which is arranged in particular in a recess (22) of an outer wall (17) of the encapsulating spring (16).
10. Electrical connection element (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the base body (15) and the encapsulating spring (16) form separate components, wherein the encapsulating spring (16) is positively connected to the base body (15).
11. Electrical connection element (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the base body (15) is formed as press-bent-part and/or the encapsulating spring (16) is formed as press-bent-part and in particular is formed substantially cuboid.

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